Counter fixture



May 9, 1944. J, p s n- 2,348,577

COUNTER FIXTURE Filed gan. 18, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I Jacbb Perry 'SmiZ'lz.

May 9,1944. P SMITH 4 2,348,577

COUNTER FIXTURE Filed Jan. 18, 1944 3 sheets sheet 2 f I asWjWgggg WW W40. J03 36 B 37 as B e g 36 B a? a 35 Jacob Perry Smil'h Patented May 9, 1944 COUNTER FIXTURE Jacob Perry Smith. Canton, Ohio, assignor to 01d King Cole Incorporated, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 18, 1944,;Scrial No. 518,735

8 Claims. (Cl. 211 130) The invention relates to fixtures for displaying merchandise upon the counters of stores and more particularly to an adjustable fixture adapted to form any one of a number of diiferent stepped or sloping designs for displaying various thereis usually-a complete set of the various designs or fixtures for each counter or showcase, the fixtures being changed from time to time for displaying various kinds of merchandise.-

When any one type of fixture is in use the remaining seven or more built up'fixture blocks comprising the set must be stored. 'This involves not only considerable expense in building the built up blocks or boxes but requires a "large amount of storage space and requiresconsiderable time and expense in hunting for the particular type of fixture desired whena change is made. Furthermore these fixtures'are usually dressed with paper before the merchandise is placed thereon and this requiresa considerable amount of paper. to cover the top and ends of eachfixture.

.Thus an obiectof the present invention is to provide an. adjustable fixture which may be quickly and easily adjusted to assume any ofthe several forms of such fixtures now in use.

"Another object is to provide-such a fixture comprising a flexible apron'and a plurality of interchangeable end members of various shapes to provide the various forms of fixtures desired.

A further'object' is the provision of an'adjustable. fixture of this character in which theapron comprises a plurality of slats of difierential widths having beveled or mitered edges and secured to a piece of fabric, cloth or other fiexible sheet material. 7 H

A still further object of the invention is to provide'an adjustable counter-fixture of the type re ferred to in which detachable connecting means is provided upon opposite ends of certain of-the slats of the apron-tor cooperation with-means uponthe end members. i

stil'izancther object is the provision of ana'djustable fixtureof: the -characterf referred to' in which the flexible apron is so constructed that moved;

angle may be formed at the joint between any two of theslats throughout the entire length of the apron.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawings-and following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the adjustable counter fixture in the manner illustrated in the -accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable counter fixture to which the invention pertains, showing the same adjusted to form a triple stepped'fixture;

Fig. 2 a similar view showing the device adjusted to. form a double stepped'fixture;

' Fig. 3 a similar view showing a single step or block adjustment of medium height;

Fig. 4 a similar view showing a high, single step, or block;

Fig. 5 a similar view showing the fixture adjusted to form a low, fiat table or platform;

Fig. 6 shows another double step adjustment;

Fig. '7 a similar view showing the fixture adjusted to provide a horizontal surface and an adjoining inclined surface;

Fig. .8 a detached perspective view of one of the endpieces as provided for producing the form of fixture shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 a perspective view of anotheradjustment ofthe device somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. '7;

. Fig. 10 a transverse sectional view through the flexible apron;

Fig. 11 a perspective view of the form of; fixture shown in Fig, 7 with one end member removed;

Fig. 12 a transverse sectional view through the form of the fixture shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 a transverse sectional view through the form'of the fixture shown in Fig. 2;

.Fig. 14 .a transverse section through the form of .thefixture shown in Fig. 3;

.;=Fig. 15 a transverse section through'the form of. the fixture shownin Fig. 4;

.,Fig. 1.6 a transverse section: through the form of the fixtureshown in Fig. 5; V

.Fig. 17a transverse section through the form of the fixture shown in Fig. 6; v a T :1 Fig. 18' a perspective view of the form- 0f the fixture shown in Fig. 9 with one-end member re- Fig. 19 a-section' taken ason the line -iQ -IB, Fig. 12;

a convex or concave corner of at least -a'gil deg're 'f s-" a fragmentary p F Vi w one corner of the assembled fixture with parts broken away for the purpose of illustration, and

Fig. 21 a bottom view of the flexible apron.

Referring now to the drawings in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout, the invention comprises generally the main framing element, in the form of a flexible apron, indicated generally at 25, and a plurality of pairs of end members indicated generally at 26 to 33 respectively, shaped to conform to eight different contours to which the flexible apron may be folded as shown in Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive and Fi 9.

The flexible apron comprises generally a plurality of slats of diiferential widths, hingedly connected together at their adjoining edges so that the apron may be folded at any joint to produce a variety of contours. These slats may be formed of wood, plywood, corrugated cardboard or other rigid material and their edges are beveled, as at B, so that the apron may be easilyfolded at the joints between slats.

It should be understood that the number and arrangement of these slats may vary in fixtures designed for use upon counters of various widths. For the particular width of counter for which the fixture illustrated is designed, the flexible apron is shown provided with a relatively wide slat 34 at one edge and a relatively narrow slat 35 at the opposite edge, with intervening narrow and wide slats, 36 and 31' respectively, arranged in the manner shown in the drawings.

For the purpose of flexibly connecting the slats together at their adjoining edges all of the slats may be attached by cement or the like, to the underside of a flexible sheet 38, which may be formed of fabric, cloth, oilcloth or the like.. The edges of the fabric sheet preferably cover the outer edges of the undressed slats 34 and 35, as indicated at 35 and 48 respectively. Each of the end members comprises an outer sheet M, of any suitable rigid material, such as pressed fibre, wood, plywood, metal or the like, having one or more blocks 42 of wood, or other suitable material, attached to its inner face, forming shoulders 43 spaced from the outer edges .of the sheet l a distance equal to the thickness of the slats of the apron, so that when the apron is folded to any one'of the eight different contours shown in the drawings, the corresponding end members may be attached to opposite ends of the folded apron, the slats resting upon the shoulders 43 of the end members and the outer edges of the sheets 4| being flush with the outer surface of the apron.

For the purpose of detachably connecting the end members to the apron, tongues 44 may be provided upon the blocks 42 of the end pieces for engagement in the keepers 45 fixed upon the end portions of. certain of the slats.

The fixture may be quickly and easily adjusted to any of the several shapes illustrated by folding the flexible apron to the desired contour and attaching the proper end members thereto. For instance, in order to produce the triple stepped shape shown in Fig. '1, the apron is folded in the manner shown in Fig. 12.

The wide end ,slat34 and the adjoining narrow slat 36 form the back of this shape of the fixture, the apron being then folded so that the upper step is formed by a narrow slat 36 and an adjoining wide slat 37, the riser for said thereof by the next adjoining narrow slat, while the lower step is formed of a narrow slat 36 and wide slat 31, and the narrow end slat 35 from the riser for said lower step.

The end members 26 are then inserted into opposite ends of the folded apron, the shoulders 43 of the blocks 42, on the inner faces of the end members, supporting the end portions of the slats in the adjusted position, and the fastening means 44-45 detachably connecting the end members to the folded apron.

To form the double stepped shape shown in Fig. 2, the apron is folded as shown in Fig. 13.

The back of the fixture is formed by the wide end slat 34, the upper step by the adjoining pair of narrow slats 36 and wide slat 31, the next narrow slat 36 forming the riser for said upper step, while the lower step is formed by the next wide slat 3'! and two narrow slats 36, the next narrow slat 36 forming the riser for the lower step, and the remainder of the apron is folded back beneath the blocks 42 of the end members 21, which are attached as above described.

It will be seen that in forming some ofthe other shapes, as shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, one or both ends of the flexible apron may be folded back beneath the blocks on the end members, as shown in Figs. 14 to 17 inclusive.

With this construction, it will be seen that a great variety of shapes may be produced with a single flexible apron and pairs of end members conforming to the several contours to which the apron may be folded. When any particular shape of fixture is in use upon the counter, it is only necessary to store the end members of the other shapes, thus requiring a, relatively small storage space since these end members are relatively small in size as compared with the entire built up counter fixtures now in common use.

Furthermore, the outer surface of the end membersmay be finished in any desired manner so as not to require covering with the paper trim ordinarily used upon such fixtures, while th top of the fixture may be easily covered with paper which may be cut from a roll and does not require special cutouts to cover the ends as is necessaryunder present practice. When it is necessary to change thetype of counter fixture in order to display various kinds of merchandise, the fixture may be quickly and easily disassembled by removing the end mem-. bers and folding the flexible apron to the desired contour and attaching the proper end .members thereto. C I. Y

Iclaim:

1. An adjustable counter fixture comprising an apron formed of a flexible sheet'and a plurality of juxtaposed slats attached to the flexible sheet; the edges of the slats being beveled so 'thatrthe apron may be folded to form a corner at. any joint throughout its width, end pieces atoppo; site ends of the apron and cooperating means upon the end pieces and certain of the slats for detachably connecting the end pieces to. 'the apron. s I

1.2, An adjustable counter fixture comprising an apronformedof .aflexible sheet and a plurality of juxtaposed slats of differential widths attached to the flexible sheet, the edges of the slats being beyeledso that the apron-maybe folded to form a corner at any joint throughout its width, end pieces at opposite ends of the apron and cooperating meansupon the end pieces and certain of the slats for detachably connecting the end pieces t he.apron.-.:;;.; 1.; i. l

3. An adjustable counter fixture comprising an apron formed of a plurality of juxtaposed slats, means for flexibly connecting the slats together at their adjoining edges so that the apron may be folded to form a corner at any joint throughout its width so as to produce any one of a number of contours, end pieces shaped to conform to the contour to which the apron is folded, and means for detachably connecting the end pieces to the apron.

4. An adjustable counter fixture comprising an apron formed of a plurality of juxtaposed slats of differential widths, means for flexibly connecting the slats together at their adjoining edges so that the apron may be folded to form a corner at any joint throughout its Width so as to produce any one of a number of contours, end pieces shaped to conform to the contour to which the apron is folded, and means for detachably connecting the end pieces to the apron.

5. An adjustable counter fixture comprising an apron formed of a plurality of juxtaposed slats,

means flexibly connecting the slats together at for detachably connecting the end pieces to the apron.

6. An adjustable counter fixture comprising an apron formed of .a plurality of juxtaposed slats of differential widths, means flexibly connecting the slats together at their adjoining edges so that the apron may be folded to form a corner at any joint throughout its width so as to produce any one of a number of contours, end pieces shaped to conform to the contour to which the apron is folded, shoulders upon the inner surfaces of the end pieces spaced from the edges thereof a distance equal to the thickness of the slats and cooperating means upon the shoulders and upon certain of the slats for detachably connecting the end pieces to the apron.

7. An adjustable counter fixture comprising an apron formed of a flexible sheet and a plurality of juxtaposed slats attached to the flexible sheet, the edges of the slats being beveled so that the apron may be folded to form a corner at any joint throughout its width, end pieces shaped to conform to the contour to which the apron is folded, shoulders upon the inner faces of the end pieces spaced from the edges thereof a distance equal to the thickness of the slats and cooperating means upon said shouldersand upon certain of the slats for detachably connecting the and pieces to the apron.

8. An adjustable counter fixture comprising an apron formed of a flexible sheet and a plurality of juxtaposed slats of differential Widths attached to the flexible sheet, the edges of the slats being beveled so that the apron may be folded to form a corner at any joint throughout its width, end pieces shaped to conform to the contour to which the apron is folded, shoulders upon the inner faces of the end pieces spaced from the edges thereof a distance equal to the thickness of the slats and cooperating means upon said shoulders and upon certain of the slats for detachably connecting the end pieces to the apron.

JACOB PERRY SMITH. 

